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Regional Program Director Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

American University

Program Director

Washington, DC · On-site

WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since ... The Program Director is responsible for the strategic design, performance optimization, and ...

Vesta, Inc

Regional Director - Lanham, Md

Lanham, MD · On-site

Regional Director - Lanham, Md Location: Lanham, MD Job Id: 1196 # of Openings: 1 Vesta, Inc., a ... facilities, day programs, and residential homes tailored to individuals grappling with mental ...

Facets

Director, Adult Only Household

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

The Program Director Adult Only Households is responsible for the oversight, coordination, and implementation of AOH Outreach and Housing services in Region 4, including the Hypothermia Program ...

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Regional Program Director information

What are Regional Program Directors?

Regional Program Directors are professionals responsible for overseeing and coordinating programs within a specific geographic area for an organization. They manage teams, ensure program objectives are met, allocate resources, and serve as a liaison between local staff and upper management. Their role often includes strategic planning, budget management, and evaluating program effectiveness to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Regional Program Directors play a key part in ensuring consistent program delivery and adapting initiatives to meet local needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Regional Program Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Regional Program Director, you need strong leadership abilities, program management experience, and a degree in fields like business administration, public policy, or related areas. Familiarity with project management software, budgeting tools, and reporting systems is typically required, along with certifications such as PMP being advantageous. Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills help you build relationships and drive results across diverse teams. These competencies are vital for ensuring effective program delivery, achieving regional objectives, and adapting to evolving organizational needs.

What is the difference between Regional Program Director vs Regional Manager?

AspectRegional Program Director

The Regional Program Director oversees multiple programs across a large geographic area, focusing on strategic planning, program development, and high-level management. They often require advanced degrees, certifications, and extensive experience in program management. The role involves coordinating efforts between programs, ensuring compliance, and aligning with organizational goals. This position is common in nonprofit, healthcare, and educational sectors.

How does a Regional Program Director typically collaborate with local teams and stakeholders?

A Regional Program Director regularly works with local managers, staff, and external partners to ensure that programs are effectively implemented and aligned with organizational goals. This collaboration often includes leading regional meetings, providing guidance on best practices, addressing challenges unique to each area, and facilitating information sharing across locations. Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as the director must coordinate resources, monitor progress, and adapt strategies to meet local needs while maintaining consistency across the region.
What are popular job titles related to Regional Program Director jobs in Reston, VA? For Regional Program Director jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Regional Program Director jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Regional Program Director jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Regional Program Director jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Regional Program Director job openings:
Regional Program Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Regional Program Director job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Program Director

Program Director

American University

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago

American University rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 553 rated colleges and universities

Job description

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University
Department:
Content Operations
Time Type:
Full time
Job Type:
Regular
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Work Modality:
Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)
Union:
Excluded
Job Description:
Summary:
WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has been amplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoods and communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
The Program Director is responsible for the strategic design, performance optimization, and operational integrity of WAMU's live broadcast schedule. Reporting to the Chief Content Officer, this role ensures that every hour of WAMU's broadcast reflects WAMU's Up Next content strategy, audience growth priorities, and brand standards.
Serving as the architect of WAMU's live listening experience, the Program Director shapes format flow, break structure, promotional cadence, and schedule cohesion across dayparts. This position ensures that WAMU's editorial vision and strategic priorities are consistently and clearly reflected in on-air and audio delivery.
Working closely with leadership across WAMU News, 1A, Broadcast Operations, Engineering, Membership, Marketing, and Digital, the Program Director translates content strategy into a cohesive, audience-centered broadcast product. The role operates through collaboration and influence, aligning multiple departments to strengthen WAMU's performance, sound, and audience impact.
Essential Functions:
1.) Live Broadcast Strategy and Format Optimization
  • Oversee the strategic design and execution of WAMU's daily broadcast schedule to ensure clarity, cohesion, and audience impact.
  • Ensure WAMU's Up Next content strategy is reflected in broadcast execution, including daypart rhythm, franchise visibility, promotional priorities, and overall audio presentation.
  • Evaluate and optimize break structure, segment length, promotional cadence, and format flow across dayparts to strengthen listener retention and engagement.
  • Partner with daypart leaders (WAMU Mornings, Midday/Weekends including The Politics Hour, and WAMU Afternoons) to align programming execution with strategic goals.
  • Maintain the integrity and consistency of WAMU's full-day broadcast sound.

2.) Traffic Log Alignment and Operational Coordination
  • Ensure the daily station log accurately reflects programming priorities and strategic decisions.
  • Collaborate with Traffic, Operations, and Engineering teams to support accurate scheduling and reconciliation of programming elements, including promotional announcements, legal IDs, Emergency Alert System requirements, and special coverage.
  • Maintain automation templates and support custom templates for pledge drives, special programming, and live news events.
  • Ensure programming metadata (RDS / PAD) is accurate and aligned with broadcast content.

3.) Audience Performance Strategy and Institutional Insight
  • Serve as WAMU's subject-matter expert on audience performance metrics, including Nielsen Audio ratings, streaming data, and related research tools.
  • Lead the analysis and interpretation of audience data to identify trends, retention opportunities, growth potential, and daypart performance insights.
  • Translate complex audience data into clear, actionable insights for leadership across WAMU News, 1A, Operations, Advancement, Marketing, and Digital teams.
  • Establish shared understanding across departments of how WAMU measures success, including key performance indicators for broadcast and live listening.
  • Partner with the Chief Content Officer to align programming strategy with measurable audience goals and long-term growth priorities.
  • Present audience performance findings in internal and board-level settings as needed.
  • Integrate terrestrial and digital listening data to provide a comprehensive, station-wide view of audience behavior.

4.) On-Air Promotions, Brand Voice, and Listener Experience
  • Collaborate with Editorial and Advancement teams to develop and strategically place on-air promotions supporting coverage, franchise content, and membership campaigns.
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of WAMU's Sound + Style standards to ensure consistent tone, pacing, and writing across dayparts.
  • Partner with Membership to thoughtfully integrate fundraising messaging into the broadcast flow, balancing audience experience and revenue goals.

5.) Strategic Program Acquisition and Partnerships
  • Manage relationships with NPR and external programming partners.
  • Evaluate programming opportunities based on audience growth potential, strategic fit, and schedule cohesion.
  • Advise the Chief Content Officer on special programming decisions and schedule evolution.
  • Maintain awareness of national public media programming trends and performance benchmarks.

6.) Cross-Departmental Leadership and Influence
  • Lead regular coordination with News, 1A, Operations, Engineering, Membership, Marketing, and Digital teams to ensure alignment in broadcast execution.
  • Identify workflow improvements that strengthen broadcast execution and reduce friction between departments.
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Content Officer on live listening performance, broadcast evolution, and long-term audience growth.

7.) Regulatory Compliance and Broadcast Standards
  • Participate in cross-departmental efforts to ensure WAMU's broadcast operations comply with FCC regulations and public radio standards.
  • Collaborate with Operations and relevant leadership to ensure programming decisions align with regulatory requirements.
  • Contribute to maintaining clear documentation and consistent application of broadcast policies and procedures.

Competencies:
  • Prioritizing and Organizing.
  • Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
  • Evaluating and Implementing Ideas.
  • Collaborative Leadership.
  • Leading and Inspiring People.
  • Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions.
  • Developing Plans.
  • Managing Talent.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
  • Full-time.
  • 35 hours per week.
  • Evening or weekend work may be required during pledge drives, breaking news coverage, or special programming.
  • Hybrid 1 work modality (3 - 4 days in office per week).

Salary Range:
  • $110,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually.

Required Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • 8 - 10 years of relevant experience.
  • Progressive experience in radio programming, broadcast operations, audience research, format strategy, or related fields.
  • Strong knowledge of FCC rules and regulations required.
  • Demonstrated experience interpreting audience data and applying insights to programming decisions.
  • Experience working collaboratively across departments in a live news environment required.

Preferred Education and Experience:
  • 10+ years of relevant experience.
  • Public radio experience strongly preferred.
  • Experience aligning broadcast strategy with multiplatform content initiatives.
  • Experience presenting audience insights to executive leadership or boards.
  • Experience supporting listener-supported fundraising strategies.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
  • Excellent writing and editing skills for broadcast and digital platforms.
  • High attention to detail and operational rigor.
  • Strong understanding of trends in public and commercial audio.
  • Ability to lead in a fast-paced live news environment.
  • Demonstrated commitment to WAMU's mission and American University's values.

Other Duties:
  • Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits
AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.
Other Details
  • Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
  • Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
  • Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
  • American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees
American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual's genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

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